Machines for printing upon cylindrical objects



Sept. 4, 1956 1. E. TlRlTlLLl 2,761,380

MACHINES FOR PRINTING UPON CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Sept. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l j/y/z ZZZ fiwza 5 ifmdia.

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Sept. 4, 1956 1. E. TlRlTlLLl 2,761,380

MACHINES FOR PRINTING UPON CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed Sept. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent MACHINES FOR PRINTING UPON CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Irmo E. Tiritilli, Chicago, 111.

Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 308,986

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-40) This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to machines for printing upon tubular or cylindrical articles such as pens, pencils and other articles of similar shape. One object is the provision of a machine that holds the pencil securely against slipping, turning or getting out of proper position while receiving the imprint so that the same will be clear, legible and the marks or letters comprising same will be of uniform clarity.

A further object is to provide a machine of this type wherein the article to receive the imprint is positively held in such position that the imprint will appear axially thereof, means being also provided whereby imprint of one, two or more colors may be effected.

A further object is to provide a manually operable pencil imprinting machine capable of printing upon pencils carrying clips without disturbing or requiring the removal of the clips. Another object is to provide an imprinting machine of substantial construction that is positive and efiicient in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use and not easily rendered inoperative by long and/or continuous use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts to be hereinafter more fully described in the following specification, defined in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this disclosure and wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a machine according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the machine partly in section and partly in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the machine, broken lines denoting altered parts of adjustable elements.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating objectaligning means employed, and,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines 55, 6-6, and 77 of Fig. 2.

The reference numeral 1 denotes the frame of the machine arranged upon the floor of the shop or the like, and provided with feet or anchoring lugs 2, the frame formed with outwardly disposed flanges 3, 3 extending desirably from end to end thereof. Secured to said frame is the table 5 by supports 6 or the like. Adjustably carried by the frame 1 is a carriage including side members 7, 7 connected to each other by cross members 8, 9, the member 8 having reduced end portions secured by bolts or screws 10 to said members 7, the cross member 9 secured in like manner to said side members 7, said member 9 provided with an upstanding operating handle 11.

Secured to the table 5 and/or to the frame 1 are the contiguous tracks 12, 13 that run from end to end of the frame, said tracks having elevated tread portions 12a,

Patented Sept. 4, 1956 'ice 13a respectively and receiving rollers 14, 15 respectively, said rollers retained adjustably upon a pair of spaced shafts 16, 17 supported in brackets 19 adjustably securing said shafts to carriage members 7, said brackets extending through said members 7 and therebeneath provided with expansion coil springs 20 abutting said member and the tensioning nuts 21 screwed upon said brackets, collars 22 upon said shafts abutting said brackets and rollers 14 to releasably retain said shafts against longitudinal movement.

Secured to the table 5, in conventional manner, adjacent one end thereof are the rotary inking pads 23, 24 each having the usual teeth 25 engaged by pawls 26 of the actuating bar 27 carried by block 28 secured by screws 29' to the carriage member 9, stops 29a secured by screws 30 to said table 5 engaging said inking pad teeth prevent movement of same in one direction. Arranged upon the shafts 16, 17 are the inking rollers 31, 31a in such position that they pass over and selectively contact the inking pads.

Secured by screws 32 to the said member 8 is a feeder for the pencils, including parallel spaced arms 33 that beyond said member 8 are connected by supporting screws 35 to the lowermost arms 36, said screws 35 provided with coil springs 37 abutting the upper and lower arms 33, 36 to yieldingly space same a predetermined distance apart. The said lower arms extend forwardly beyond said upper arms and carry ball-bearing rollers 38 that travel upon rails 39 engaging the pencil, the forward ends of said lower arms beveled to receive and propel forwardly the pen or pencil 40 that is there manually inserted by the operator transversely of said rails and resting thereupon.

The purpose of the feeder is to provide a pencil engaging and propelling means that includes lower arms 36 that engage the pencil and through the medium of springs and screws 37, 35 exert sufiicient pressure upon the pencil to retain it in adjusted position and that will insure an imprint when it passes over the imprinting means.

Referring again to rails 39 same are adjustably supported upon cross braces 41, having slots 42, by means of screws 43 extending through said slots, said cross braces secured at their ends to the frame 1 by screws 44.

Secured to frame sides 1 by bolts 45 is the angular brace 46 that supports indicia plate 47 by means of screws 48, said plate 47 having horizontally adjusting screws 49. Arranged upon end shafts 50 (only one shown) is the pencil rack 51 for pencils after same have been imprinted.

When two or more colors are to be used in the printing, means are provided to insure that a given inking roller may be raised to a position to clear the inking pad not desired for use therewith, all as follows: In the present instance the ink pad 23 carries black ink and the ink pad 24 is provided with red ink. It will be noted that the shafts 16, 17 are provided with stop collars 53 adjustable longitudinally thereof to position the rollers of either shaft for engagement selectively with the tracks 12 or 13. If the color to be used is black only, the rollers are adjusted to ride only upon tracks 12 so that they will ride upon elevated tread portions 12a which will cause one inking roller to contact the pad 23 as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, but to clear the pad 24 so that black ink only will be spread upon the die or indicia plate 47 causing the pencil, moved forwardly by the feeder rollers 38 to be printed in black. If red only is to be used the rollers 14, 15 will be adjusted to pass over track 13 and elevations thereof 13:: so that they will skip the black ink pad and contact only the red one. If a two-color job is desired the rollers of shaft 17 will be adjusted for contact only with the black ink pad while the rollers of shaft 16 will be adjusted to contact the red pad, the track tread elevations raising the corresponding rollers and inkers to clear the pads not then desired, the machine being operated manually by handle 11.

Secured to one end of the frame by screws 54 is a stop block 55 for engagement by a screw supporting lug 56, the screw 57 serving as a screw stop. Secured to the table 5 is a gauge 58 against which one end of the pencil 40 may be placed while a starting gauge 59 also is provided, said adjustable gauges serving to provide proper positioning of the pencil with relation to the indicia plate to permit printing at any point desired upon the pencil and to prevent contact with a clip that may be carried by the pencil, which otherwise might contact the indicia plate.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for printing upon cylindrical objects, a frame, a table upon said frame, a carriage movable upon said frame, tracks secured to said frame, an object feeder for cylindrical objects secured to said carriage and movable longitudinally of said frame, said feeder including upper arms and lower arms adjustably secured to said upper arms, said lower arms extending beyond said upper arms for pressure exerting engagement with the object, rails carried by said frame, rollers carried by said lower arms for travel upon said rails for impelling engagement with the object, and an indicia plate between said rails in the path of said rollers and of said object for printing upon said object as it is moved thereover.

2. In a machine for printing upon cylindrical objects,

a frame, a table upon said frame, a carriage movable upon said frame, tracks secured to said frame, an object feeder secured to said carriage and movable longitudinally of said frame, said feeder including spaced upper arms and lower arms adjustably secured to said upper arms, said lower arms extending beyond said upper arms in one direction for pressure exerting engagement with said object, rails carried by said frame in advance of said object feeder, rollers carried by said lower arms for travel upon said rails for impelling engagement with the object, and indicia plate between said rails in the path of said rollers and of said object for printing upon said object as it is moved thereover, a starting gauge secured to said table for engagement with one end of the object, and a second starting gauge carried by said table, said gauges cooperating to define position of the object with relation to said indicia plate to facilitate spot printing upon same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,618 Bailey, et al Feb. 11,1873 408,557 Weisz Aug. 6, 1889 927,509 Dumars July 13, 1909 1,068,851 Brewer July 29, 1913 1,831,868 Karp Nov. 17, 1931 2,133,920 Goessling Oct. 18, 1938 2,303,480 Lipic Dec. 1, 1942 

